The number of people committing suicide after being released from police
custody has reached its highest level for nine years, according to a report
by the police watchdog.

Figures released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) revealed that 64 people apparently took their lives within two days of release from police custody in 2012 compared to 39 the previous year.

The watchdog also revealed that 18 of those people who took their own lives had been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.

This comes in a year when there has been a significant increase in the number of people arrested in connection with historic sex offences in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Almost two thirds of the suicide victims were also known to have had mental health issues.

Dame Anne Owers, chairwoman of the IPCC, said: “Each of these deaths is an individual tragedy, and it is crucial that we make sure that any possible lessons are learned.

“It is welcome that the number of those dying in police custody has significantly reduced – less than half the number before the IPCC was set up. However, it is of continuing concern that a high proportion – almost half – were known to have mental health issues, as were nearly two-thirds of those who apparently committed suicide within two days of release from custody.

“The police are often called in to deal with acutely mentally ill people, who may be a danger to themselves or others or who may be behaving in a disturbing or strange way. It is clearly important that they are better trained in mental health awareness. But these figures also point to gaps and failings in the services that ought to support those with mental illness – before, instead of and after contact with the criminal justice system.”

The annual report, which looks at the number of deaths, during or after police contact, also found that there had been no fatal shootings by the police for the first time since the IPCC was launched in 2004.

This comes at a time when police are increasingly resorting to the use of Taser weapons to deal with volatile incidents, however Dame Anne said the lack of police shootings was welcome given the number of incidents armed officers attended.

The report also revealed that the proportion of deaths related to police pursuits rose in 2012, accounting for 26 out of 30 road traffic fatalities.

Dame Anne said: "For the first time since the IPCC came into being nearly a decade ago, there were no fatal shootings in 2012-13, and this is welcome, especially given the number of occasions on which armed police are deployed.

“The increase in the number and proportion of police pursuit-related deaths is disappointing. Forces need to be mindful of the Acpo (Association of Chief Police Officers) guidelines on the management of pursuits which IPCC investigations have helped to strengthen.”

The report revealed that 14 men and one woman died in police custody over the last year with four having been restrained by police officers at some point prior to their death.